Turbine-engine.



- Patented Dec. 9, [902. J. H. K. McCULLUM.

TURBH'IE ENGINE.

(Application led Apr. 2,^1902.)

(No Hode.)

nrrngrrnrns artnr .I AMES HARRY KEIGHLY MOOOLLUM, OF TORONTO, CANADA,ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOv JOI-IN VYCLIFFE LOWES FOSTER, OF TORONTO,

CANADA.

TU RBlNE'f-ENGINE.

SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 715,410, dated December9, 1902.

Application filed April `12, 1902 To cir/ZZ whom it 11i/tty concern:

Beitknown that I, JAMES HARRY KEIGHLY MOCOLLUtLelectrician, ofthe cityof Toronto, in the county of York, in the Province of Ontario, Canada,have invented certain nenT and useful Improvements in Turbine-Engines,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in turbine-engines; and the objectof the invention is to devise a rigid, strong, and cheaply.- constructedengine of this class in which there will be no interior packing orwearing parts liable to Wear out or prevent the use of highlysuperheated steam, in which any rea'- sonable amount of end play may beallowed Without being detrimental to the working of the engine or liableto cause accident or deistruetion to any of the parts thereof, in whichthe turbine may be reversed when required, and in which there will be nodanger of any ap# preciable fan action, which is detrimental to theeihciency of the engine; and it consists,es sentially,'of a turbinecomprising a substantially step-like cone-shaped casing having an inletfor the steam at the smaller end and an exhaust at the opposite end andsuitably-supf ported rings concentrically secured to the interior of thecasing and provided with steamdirecting ports set at an angle to theradial line and correspondingcoacting turbines orwheels substantiallyopposite each ring, having provided in its periphery pockets which formvanes to receive the force of the steam through the directing-ports inthe rings, the engine being otherwise constructed so that the steam willpass through the engine in easy-flowing curves, and the wheels being. soarranged in relation to the rings as to rotate close to them, the partsbeing otherwise arranged and constructed as hereinafter moreparticularly eX-Z plained.

Figure l is a sectional perspective view of my improved turbine-engine.Fig. 2 is an end section made on the liney, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is aperspective view of the ring containing the directing-ports. Fig. 4 is aside view of one of my wheels. Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing theform of rings and wheel necessary for a reversing-turbine. Fig. 6 is aperspective detail showing the construction of the ring and reversingring-valve attached Serial No. 102,571. KNG model.)

thereto. Fig. 7 is a perspective detail of a portion of the casing of aturbine-engine, showing one means for actuating the reversingring-valves.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate correspondingparts in each figure.

A is the main shaft of the engine.

B, O, D, and E are the several casings, arranged in the form of astep-like truncated cone. The casing B has an end Wall B', into whichlextends the inlet-pipe b for the admission of steam.

B2 is a central bearing for the shaft, formed in the center of the WallB'.

The casings B, C, D, and E are concentric to the shaft. The casing E isprovided with a flange E', to which is secured the end Wall F, in thecenter of which is formed the end bearing F for the shaft A.

G is the exhaust-pipe, which communicates with the interior of thecasing and extends outwardly from the wall F.

H is the bed of the engine, on which the casing is suitably supportedand secured.

The casings O, D, and E are provided, respectively, with annular flangesc, d, and e,

kforming part of the end walls'O, D', and E',

and annular shoulders c', d', and e', formed on the same endwalls. Theangesc, d, and e, as well as the shoulders c', d', and e', areconcentric to the shaft. The casings B, C, and D are arranged so thattheir peripheries are also concentric to the shaft and are pro` videdwith outwardlyextending iianges b2, c2, and d?, whereby they are securedby suitable bolts to the Walls C', D', and E, respectively, peripherallyoutside and abutting the anges c, di, and e, respectively, so that itWill be understood that the casings likewise are, as hereinbeforedescribed, concentric to the shaft. Within the casings and abutting theshoulders c', d, vand c' are rings H, I, and J, which are secured inposition by bolts 2, 3, and 4 passing through the casings B, C, and D,respectively, into the forwardly-extending lugs H', I', and J. The ringsH, I, and .I are provided with directing-ports h, i, and j, setobliquely to the radial line to the center of the shaft. Thedirecting-ports h, t, andj are preferably (although not shown in thedrawings) provided with rounded entrances to pro- IOO vide for the easyadmission of the steam through the same.

K, L, and M are the turbines or Wheels, which are provided with suitablehubs and are suitably secured or keyed to the shaft. The driving-Wheelsare provided with end disks K, L', and M, supporting the rims 7c, Z, andm. The end of the rim lo lits into an annular groove Z' in the disk L ofthe wheel L, and the end of the rim Z fits into an annular groove m inthe disk M of the wheel M. The three wheels are preferably boltedtogether through their disks by means of the bolts N.

It will now be seen that there are annular spaces formed outside and infront of the wheels K, L, and M. Each of the peripheries la, l, and m oftheir respective wheels K, L, and M are provided on their rims withsmall annular grooves 702, Z2, and m2, which are designed to form awater or steam packing between the Wheels K, L, and M and the rings H,I, and J, respectively. The peripheries 7c, l, and m are each providedwith a plurality of pockets 7c3, Z3, and m3, preferably longitudinallyarc-shaped around their entire peripheries and converging peripherallyat the sides to a point so as to form walls, teeth, or vanes 7a4, Z, andm4, and one side of which is prefl erably an easy-fiowing curve, asindicated in Fig. 2, and the other side a quick curve. The steam isadmitted through the pipe b and passes through the annular space Withinthe casing B into the directing-ports h, where the steam passesobliquely against the vanes 7a4. The steam then passes through theannular space in the casing C and the directing-ports t against thevanes Z4 into the annular space inside the casing D, whence thecontinuously-expanded steam passes through the directing-portsj againstthe vanes m4, then into the casing E, whence the exhaust passes outthrough the port or pipe G.

The Wheel M, if found desirable, may have a rear disk secured to it, soas to prevent the admission of the steam within the rim.

In my construction of engine it will be noticed that the ringscontaining the directingports and the rims of the wheel are all soformed that they may be easily cast and milled, so as to form the portsand the pocketsforming the vanes of the most desired form. It will alsobe noticed that in all the rims of the Wheels or turbines the vanes areformed entirely within the exterior periphery of the rim of the wheel,and consequently there will be no fan action, as would be the case werethe vanes provided peripherally outside the rim. It will also be seenthat the annular spaces formed around the wheels are so constructed asto form easytlowing curves for the steam to pass through. The form shownmay not be the most desired form and may be altered to present even moreeasy flowing curves than shown without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

As has been before described, the front porports 8 in the oppositedirection.

tions of the rims of the Wheels are provided with annular grooves, andit will also be noticed that the wheels t closely to their respectiverings containing the directing-ports. It will thus be seen that thesteam itself or condensed steam will form a perfect packing, so that thelive steam is directed in its proper course through the annular spacesas it passes through the turbine'.

In Figs. 5, 6, and 7 I show the form of ring and casing necessary toproduce a reversing turbine-engine. It will be noticed that each casingis divided into an equal number of compartments by longitudinal walls 55 and 6 6, in this case the number of compartments being four. Thedirecting-ports? and 8 in the ring in this instance are half slanted inone direction and half in the opposite direction, the directing-ports 7opposite each other being slanted in the one direction and thedirecting- The vanes 9 are formed so that each wall is of a suitablecurve. The rings 10, containing the ports 7 and 8, are provided with anannular projection 11, Which has end openings 12, which are controlledby a reversing ring-valve 13, provided With a corresponding number ofopenings 14 tothe end openings 12. A pin 15 is provided on the ring13,whereby the ringis manipulated or given a circular movement, so as tocontrol one set of ports 7 or the other ports 8, as may be desired,lthis of course depending upon which way it is desired to drive theturbine. Each pin is connected by a link 16 to an arm 17 on a spindle18, which passes through the walls of the casing and is suitablyjournaled and provided at its front end with arms 19,which are connectedby the rods 20,to which is connected at the bottom the operating-lever2l. (See Fig. 6.) It will be seen by manipulating the lever 21 all thering-valves 14 may be simultaneously moved so as to throvsr eitherdesired set of ports 7 or 8 open for the admission of steam.

From what has now been described it will be readily understood that notonly may my turbine be made to drive in one direction, but it may withequal facility be made to reverse, which is an important desideratum inengines of this class.

Among the advantages derived from an engine constructed in accordancewith my invention is that there is no interior packing or wearing partsto wear or prevent the use of highly-superheated steam, that all theparts are rigid, strong, and of simple mechanical construction, capableof being made cheaply and not requiring expert fitting and placingtogether, as is the casein most turbines. End play, it will also beunderstood, will be no detriment Within reasonable limits and cannotcause accident or destruction. All the curves are flowing curves, andthe vanes are so formed that the skin friction isgreduced to a minimum;besides, there is no fan action, as is the case in other forms ofturbines of which I am aware. All steam passage-Ways will be IOO IIO

Irl;

preferably polished to minimize skin friction. From the construction ofmy turbine also it will be seen that by placing the turbines back toback all end thrust can `be avoided.

As before stated, reversing-engines may be built according to myinvention Where desii-ed, as for marine, locomotive, and other suchuses.

Although I show the rings H, I, and .I as secured to the front Walls ofthe casings by means of bolts extending through forwardlyextending lugson the rings, I may [ind it preferable to dispense With these lugsaltogether and secure the rings to the inwardlyextending portion of thefront Walls of the casings to the rear of the rings. In this Way it willbe seen'that if no lugs or bolts are provided there would be noimpediment to cause skin friction or eddying of the steam in the annularspaces.

Although in Fig. 5 I show portion of the directing-ports inclined halfin one direction and half in the other, it will ofcourse be understoodthat any desired number of the directing-ports may be used for forwardrotation and the remainder for the reverse, and in this oase, of course,the compartments divided by the longitudinal Walls 5 5 and 6 6 would bechanged correspondingly.

It will be noticed in the drawings that the lugs H', I, and J are of thesame thickness as the rings; but it Will of course be understood thatIdo not wish to limit myself to making these lugs of the same thickness,as I may find it preferable to extend them inward radially, so that theywill act in such a manner as to give greater reaction of the steam onthe Wheel-buckets when leaving the same. It will also be understood fromthis specification that the ring-valves which I describe may be variedin form if I find it necessary, so that when manipulated by awheel-governor or otherwise more or less of the ports may be closed off,and thereby control the amount of steam admitted, and thus provide forvariable loads.

I should mention that I have shown in the drawings enlarged flangesrounded at the inner side, so as to present an easy-flowing curve,whereby the steam is directed into the ports' in the rings.

Although I have shown the casing and the Wheels arranged intruncated-cone step-like fashion, it will of course be understood that Imay make the casing of the same diameter throughout, and also theWheels.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In a steam turbine-engine, thecombination With the shaft and the casing having the periphery thereofconcentric to the shaft, the inclosed ends in which the bearings for theshaft are formed and the steam inlet and exhaust at opposite ends of thecasing, of the Wheels suitably secured to the shaft and provided Withsubstantiallyarc-shaped pockets, the Walls of which form vanessubstantially within the peripheries of the rims, and ringsconcentrically secured Within the casing and fitting closely the forwardportion of the rims ofthe Wheels and having obliquely-setdirecting-ports located opposite the front portion of the vanes on therims of the wheel, such rings and Wheels forming with thel casingsteam-chambers to the front of each of the Wheels and to the outsideofthe rings and ri ms of the Wheels as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a turbine engine the combination with the casing and shaftjournaledtherein, of a stationary ring within said casing having aplurality of oblique ports located on one edge portion, leaving theother edge portion intact, and a Wheel secured to the shaft and havingone portion of its periphery provided with arc-shaped buckets inopposition to said ports and having the remaining portion of itsperiphery located in proximity to the intact inner face of the ring,substantially as described. K

3. In a turbine engine the combination with the casing comprising aplurality of circularsteam-chambers of increasing diameter and aninwardly-extending concentric flange partially separating each chamber,of a shaft journaled in said casing, a ring Within each chamber securedto said flange and havinga plurality of inclined steam-ports adjacent tothe flange, and a Wheel secured to the shaft in each chamber, each Wheelhaving a portion of its periphery rotating steam-tight Within the ringand having the remaining portion provided with pockets or vanes located,partly wit-hin the ring in line with the ports and partly in thesucceeding chamber, substantially as described.

4. In a turbine-engine, the combination With the wheels secured on theshaft and arranged in cone-frustum-shape step-like fashion, of thecone-frustum-shape casing coinprising sections arranged incone-frustumshape step-like fashion, each section being suitably securedto the adjacent section, and each section after the first being providedwith forwardly-extending concentric flanges rounded on the inside onwhich the inner periphery of each section ts as and for the purposespecified.

5. In a turbine-engine, the combination with the wheels secured on theshaft and arranged in cone-frustum-shape step-like fashion, of thecone-frustum-shape casing comprising sections arranged incone-frustumshape step-like fashion, each section being suitably securedto the adjacent section, and the inwardly-extending portion of eachsection Within the casing being provided with an annular shoulder, andthe ring provided with directing-ports and secured in position withinthe shoulder formed in the inwardlyextending portion of each sectionexcept the rst, such ring closely fitting the rim of the Wheels as shownand for the purpose specified.

6. In a turbine-engine, the combination with the wheels secured on theshaft and ar- IOO lor,

IIO

ranged in cone-frustum-shape step-like fashion, of thecone-frustum-shape casing comprising sections arranged incone-frustuinshape step-like fashion, each section being suitablysecured to 'the inwardly-extending portion of the adjacentsection, andrings containing directing-ports arranged, so that their innerperipheries are concentric to the inner" edge of the inwardly-extendingportions of the section and provided .with forwardly-extending lugs orprojections designed to abut the inwardly-extending portion of eachsection, and bolts extending through the in- Wardly-eXtendin g portionsor walls of the sections into such lugs as and for the purposespecified.

7. In a turbine-engine, the combination with the Wheel and shaft, of thering containing the directing-ports portion set obliquely one Way andthe remainder the reverse Way as to direction of rotation and providedWith an outwardly-extending flange and ring surrounding such Harige, andopenings extending through the flange, longitudinal Walls separating thesets of openings leading to the directing-ports, and the reversingring-valves provided with corresponding openings, so set that some ofthe openings are open, so as to propel the Wheel in one direction andthe remainder closed as and for the purpose specified.

8. In a turbine-engine, the combination With the Wheel and shaft, of thering containing the directing-ports portion set obliquely one Way andthe remainder the reverse Way as to direction of rotation and providedWith an outwardly-extending ange, and ring surrounding such iange, andopenings extending through the flange, longitudinal Walls separating thesets of openings leading to the directing-ports, the reversingring-valve provided With corresponding openings so set that some of theopenings are open, so as to propel the Wheel in one direction and theremainder are closed, a pin secured to the reversingring, a linkconnected to the pin, an arm connected to the link on the adjacent rodand means for rotating Stich rod, so as to change the position of thering and consequently the direction of rotation as and for the purposespecified.

JYAMES HARRY KEIGIILY MCCOLLUM.

Vitnesses:

B. BOYD, L. TRIMBLE.

